Dean Danielsen authors chapter on blood pressure management
Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, dean, A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences, has authored a chapter on blood pressure management in the new edition of Essential Clinical Procedures (a textbook by Richard Dehn and David Asprey).
Written by foremost experts in the field, the 3rd Edition of Essential Clinical Procedures presents the latest common diagnostic and treatment-related procedures that are needed by physician assistants. Clear and concise, this medical reference book leads readers through more than 70 techniques commonly seen in primary care and specialist settings.
Two A.T. Still University (ATSU) athletic training (AT) students have been selected for national scholarships by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Research & Education Foundation Scholarship Committee. “These are competitive, peer-reviewed scholarships, so it is quite an accomplishment to be selected,” said John Parsons, PhD, AT, associate professor and director, athletic training program, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.
Kelsey Picha, AT, ’14, was awarded the Gary Delforge scholarship, which is sponsored by the Friends of Gary Delforge. “Dr. Delforge was the founding director of the ATSU AT program, and was also my graduate school mentor at the University of Arizona,” said Dr. Parsons. He was a member of the NATA Professional Education Committee for more than 17 years; he also served on the NATA Board of Directors, keeping education at the center of his focus. Dr. Delforge was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1988, and is also a member of the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association and Rocky Mountain Athletics Trainers’ Association Halls of Fame.
Suzie Aparicio, AT, ’14, was awarded the John A. Mayes Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) scholarship. This scholarship is provided to a qualified AT student from a diverse ethnic background. Dr. Parsons said that Mr. Mayes has worked tirelessly to champion ethnic diversity initiatives and to promote healthcare and higher education in the minority community. He served as the national liaison to the NATA’s Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee, and his outstanding leadership efforts have been recognized with the NATA Service Award and also articles in The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, NATA News Journal and the AMA Health Care Career News.
Kelsey Picha
Suzie Aparicio
More than 25 students, faculty, and staff helped build a labyrinth on the Arizona campus, Saturday, May 11. This project was organized by the ATSU Cultural Competency in Education Committee.
The labyrinth is located on the northwest corner of the main building between the main building and the YMCA. It was built to create a beautiful physical space on campus where one can go to get away, take a few moments of quiet time, connect with self, and de-stress.
Labyrinths are ancient tools thought to facilitate balance, healing, spiritual awakening, and protection. A seven-ring circle labyrinth is a symbol of wholeness and unity, represented in many indigenous cultures around the world including the Pima and Hopi Indian nations in Arizona.
Bhargav Chandrashekar, OMS II, A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Medicine, has been awarded a scholarship to represent ATSU at the ninth annual Telluride Patient Safety Educational Roundtable and Student Summer Camp, July 31 – Aug. 4., on the MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center Campus in Washington, DC. He is one of only 40 medical students from across the country competitively chosen to participate, thanks to scholarships funded by The Doctors Company Foundation and MedStar Health.
This year’s topic, The power of change agents: Teaching caregivers effective communication skills to overcome the multiple barriers to patient safety and transparency, brings together interprofessional leaders from patient safety, informatics, graduate medical education and health science education with patient advocates and students to address patient safety educational issues.
The Arizona campus Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the SGA Faculty Awards at a breakfast reception on May 8. Each year, the SGA selects one faculty member from each program who exhibits excellence in education. Recipients of the award are nominated and selected by the students of each program. The 2013 Faculty award recipients honored are:
John Payne, DDS, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health
Jay Crutchfield, MD, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Andrea Ruotolo, AuD, Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), audiology
Congratulations to all the recipients. Well deserved! The SGA will also be honoring the recipients during this fall’s Founder’s Day held on campus on Friday, October 18. A separate invitation will be sent out later this year.
A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Medicine students have been honored for going above and beyond when it comes to community service.
Students were recognized by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents for participating in the Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH) program.
In order to receive this distinction, students must complete a minimum of community service outside any requirements from the school.
Platinum Recipient (most hours)
Leah Frank, OMS I
Gold Recipients (> 100 hours)
Katherine Milam, OMS II
Ryan Hayes, OMS II
James Tucker, OMS II
Matthew Smetana, OMS IV
Bhargav Chandrashekar, OMS II
Erin Majchrzak, OMS III
Jessica Lapinski, OMS I
Silver Recipients (> 50 hours)
Gina Doloresco, OMS II
Meaghan Raney, OMS II
Giovanni Crosland, OMS II
Ashley Hall, OMS II
Christine Beeson, OMS I
Jake Moore, OMS I
Roxanne Rajaii, OMS III
Michelle Hamilton, OMS II
Deanna Jarzabkowski, OMS II
Kaitlyn Stratowski, OMS II
Jonathan DeBoer, OMS I
Philip Hall, OMS II
The ATSU chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology is offering two days the week of May 12 to get earmold impressions done and to order custom-fit hearing protection or listening molds for your iPod or other devices. Prices range from approximately $80 to $130 depending on the style and technology ordered. Hearing-protection device styles are available for musicians, recreational shooting or hunting, motorcyclists, NASCAR fans, dentists, etc. Floatable swim plugs are available. Custom-fit earmolds for earbuds, other earphones, and Bluetooth phone devices are available.
Come to the lobby in the main 5850 building to sign up and have your earmold impression done during the designated times:
Tuesday May 14, 12:00-1:30 p.m. and 4:00-5:30 p.m. (Sign up in the main lobby and have impressions taken in Superstition on the second floor)
Thursday May 16, 12:00-1:30 & 4:00-5:30 p.m. (Sign up in lobby and have impressions taken in Yucca on the first floor)
Representatives of A.T. Still University (ATSU), and partners Unity Health Care, Inc., of Washington, D.C., and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (WCGME) of Scranton, Pa., celebrated the establishment of the District of Columbia’s first residency and medical training community campus in late April. Approximately 80 guests gathered at Unity’s Upper Cardozo Health Center in the Nation’s Capital to learn how the partners’ collaborative training effort may help offset the nation’s pressing health care challenges as a result of the Affordable Care Act – the shortage of primary care physicians trained to work with underserved populations and the changes in federal funding for medical training.
Unity Health Care’s President and CEO Vincent Keane welcomed guests and provided remarks alongside ATSU President Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84 and ATSU-SOMA Dean Kay Kalousek, DO, as well as representatives of WCGME, Unity Health Care, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), and special guest speaker, DC Mayor Vincent Gray.
Unity’s community campus will provide medical school and residency training for osteopathic physicians who will work predominantly in a primary care setting. Beginning July 2013, Unity Health Care will begin training ten medical students who will complete years two through four of their medical education at the community campus, and train six family practice residents within their network of community health centers (CHCs) through a ground breaking medical training program in partnership with ATSU-SOMA and WCGME.
“This is a magnificent place for patients to be treated, and we are looking forward to the partnership,” said Craig Phelps, DO, president of ATSU. “We really believe that is where health care has to be headed if we are going to take care of the unprecedented need and demand that is coming.”
The innovative family residency program is funded through a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and will place 87 graduates over three years in Community Health Centers around the country, including at Unity Health Centers in D.C. The program signals a focus on addressing the primary care physician shortage trained to work in underserved areas through “homegrown recruitment strategies for medical education and residency programs.” Not only is the program addressing current and future shortages in primary care, but it will also encourage local students to become primary care physicians who practice within their home communities.
Vincent Keane, Unity Health Care president and CEO, stated, “For years, Unity’s leadership has dreamed of creating a residency and medical training program, which would be tailored specifically to serve the unique needs of the medically underserved. Today, with the assistance of our partners, that dream is being realized in the District of Columbia.”
The National Center for American Indian Health Professions (NCAIHP) on the ATSU Arizona campus is sponsoring a series of displays and exhibits exemplifying American Indian culture. The current display in the series features Hopi Kachina which is on exhibit in Building 5845, Suite 213.
Kachina refers to the supernatural beings who are believed to be Hopi (Pueblo) villagers and are thought to have power to bring rain, help in many daily activities of villagers, and in general to function as messengers between the spiritual domain and mortals.
Look for upcoming exhibits featuring sweat lodges, Northwest totem poles, and prayer poles.
A.T. Still University students, staff and faculty celebrated its inaugural Relay For Life event benefiting the American Cancer Society on May 4, 2013.
The University’s Relay For Life event was initiated and organized by ATSU students from various healthcare programs. More than 200 students, faculty and staff participated in fundraising events leading up to the culmination event which was held on the Mesa campus.
“It was such an honor to work with the students and faculty of A.T. Still University,” said American Cancer Society Community Relationship Manager, Ashley Minchella. It brings me absolute joy to welcome the students and faculty of A.T. Still University to the Relay For Life family. This 2013 committee should be so proud of the success’ they made and the legacy they have left for their fellow peers and University!”
An astounding $32,000 was raised and will go to support the American Cancer Society. Additionally, ATSU Relay For Life committee members are proud to report that donations are still coming in.
Participants launched the event Saturday evening with an opening ceremony honoring those who have overcome, are battling, or who have been lost to cancer. Activities continued through the night – including a camp-out on the University’s front lawn – and ended early Sunday morning.
“The faculty, staff, students, family and friends, who participated in or who supported the event, made an incredible impact to not only the lives of those living in Arizona facing cancer, but everywhere,” said Bridget Spooner, ATC, event chair. “We fought back against cancer this past year and in my opinion, we won!”
A complete photo album may be viewed by visiting the official ATSU Facebook page
“The faculty, staff, students, family and friends, who participated in or who supported the event, made an incredible impact to not only the lives of those living in Arizona facing cancer, but everywhere,” said Bridget Spooner, ATC, event chair. “We fought back against cancer this past year and in my opinion, we won!”